SHORT TAKES : Warwick: Let’s Refocus on AIDS

Singer Dionne Warwick says AIDS education campaigns must target minorities, and in words that are understandable to those who don’t have a high-school diploma.

The Grammy-winning singer told an international AIDS and ethics forum Tuesday that health officials have reached the educated, white, gay male population.

“We must develop new models that are culturally sensitive and community-specific,” Warwick said in calling for “bilingual” AIDS educators who also know the language of the streets.

“Having our health decisions made by Caucasian males, while it has never been satisfactory, is no longer acceptable,” said Warwick.